NBA Rumors: Kevin Durant Eyes Brooklyn Nets Deal; Lakers, Knicks Fail To Steal OKC Star

By Mitch de Leon
NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves
Jan 27, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) dunks in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.  Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The free agency speculations surrounding Kevin Durant are overwhelming this season. While the Oklahoma City Thunder star is busy attempting to push their NBA team to the top, fans and sports analysts are hard at work figuring out where he will be next. Despite Durant's strengthened bond with Russell Westbrook, the basketball community remains firm in its belief that the veteran will no longer be in Oklahoma come his free agency year.

Durant has been hounded by reports on NBA teams interested in signing him soon. These include the Los Angeles Lakers where he is eyed as the next veteran presence in the team once Kobe Bryant exits. The New York Knicks are also targeting Durant to boost the group's chemistry and help Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis in carrying the team to the top. James Harden's Houston Rockets and Isaiah Thomas' Boston Celtics are also rumored to be keeping a close watch of Durant's availability.

However, it looks like an unexpected NBA team got the rest beat. Fans are now pointing out the possibility of Durant signing with the Brooklyn Nets. While the Oklahoma City Thunder star remains mum on the entire free agency issue, his comments are treated as clues on his next destination.

"It's always fun," said Durant of New York via the New York Post. He added, "It's the mecca of basketball, New York City. Just to play here in front of these fans here, who enjoy the game of basketball, it's amazing. You can tell when you walk into an arena - being at Barclays and being at Madison Square - it's just that pure basketball feel that you get when you walk in those arenas, so it's just a joy."

Durant also went on to admire the roster of the Brooklyn Nets, praising the talent in the said basketball team. Despite the guys missing from the squad, the Brook Lopez squad beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 106-116. At the moment, the Brooklyn Nets are at the bottom of the LeBron James-led Eastern Conference.

"Injuries and major changes, it factors in. They've got all the talent over there. It's just sometimes it happens you're not totally focused and a lot of things are going on around that may distract you from playing basketball," Durant said of the Brooklyn Nets. He added, "Two huge injuries to your team, guys that were starting, of course, it's going to mess them up. We've been there - a lot of other teams have been there. It's just a matter of keep playing hard every single night, and that's what they do."

While these comments might seem that Durant is seriously considering the Brooklyn Nets, the Oklahoma City Thunder icon dismissed the rumors. He shared the basketball community has the tendency to speculate that every NBA star wants to be in New York. Durant noted that while the city could be so alluring, he has yet to make a decision to actually move there.

"They link everybody with New York City," Durant pointed out in an interview with News OK. He added, One of the greatest cities in the world. They link everybody with this city. So it's not a bad thing. Great city. Great place to visit, great place to live, I'm sure. They link everybody, it's not just me."

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